Christmas tree pickup set for Jan. 22

Jan. 9, 2011 at 10:03 p.m.Updated Jan. 8, 2011 at 7:09 p.m.

O.C. Garza

When will live Christmas trees be picked up for recycling?

Live Christmas trees will be picked up for recycling on Jan. 22.

But if you want your tree recycled earlier, lay it on the curb five feet away from your trash cart on your normal garbage collection day and we will pick it up. Only live trees are collected, but no flocked trees please. The tree stand, all lights and all decorations must be removed from the tree.

Does the library offer any downloadable ebook service that allows library card holders to checkout ebooks and audio books for reading with electronic readers like the Barnes and Noble Nook, the Sony Reader and other similar devices?

They will offer the service in March. The Victoria Public Library is setting up access to downloadable eBooks and audiobooks through OverDrive. The great value to this new service, which will debut in March, is you do not have to buy these electronic books. You will download the books into your reading device after "checking them out" like regular library books. Once this service is up and running, your library card will provide you with access to audiobooks in several formats and eBooks in multiple formats. Downloadable books can be read on eBook readers, phones and computers and audiobooks can be listened to on mp3 players. The plan is to have this service available for library card holders. For more information about compatible devices, visit the Victoria Public Library website at www.victoriapubliclibrary.org.

I run a business in Victoria and wanted to know if there is a business coalition that helps Victoria recover from emergencies like storms or floods?

Yes. The Victoria Partners in Preparedness Program is a free, public-private partnership that works together before, during and after emergencies and disasters. Led by the Victoria Office of Emergency Management, the program is supported by a partnership between the Victoria OEM, the city of Victoria, Victoria County, the Victoria Economic Development Corporation, the Victoria Chamber of Commerce and the University of Houston-Victoria's Small Business Development Center. The Victoria Partners in Preparedness Program is open to any Victoria business that wishes to participate and typically involves owners or managers, safety personnel, training staff, individuals with operational control over an organization's personnel and resources and individuals authorized to make decisions regarding the health and safety of the organization's customers and staff. No community can recover quickly from emergencies without a lot of coordinated effort from both emergency officials and our business community. If your business is interested in becoming a partnership member, contact the Victoria Office of Emergency Management at 361-485-3362 or via e-mail to oem@victoriatx.org.